I do stand corrected on the UUID issue. When you were first proposing it, I was assuming you had meant a randomly generated value, not a calculated one, and a randomly generated value would have to generated by a central authority if it were to be of any use.

A calculated value can determined by anyone given a specific set of data, and I believe it’s definitely the way to go, even if it is a UUID or some variation on that.

I guess what we want to be able to do, however, is NOT identify a property, but a *listing* of a property. ie, a unique combination of advertiser (agent) info and property info. That’s what I had in mind when I was talking about calculated values. For that to happen, you would need unchanging values (like addresses, Agent Licence Numbers, or ABNs to identify the agent).

In any case, when the proposal begins to gain speed, I guess we’ll all get to put in our two cents worth.

Peter, are there any thoughts as to the proposed makeup of a committe (sales vs agent vs technical vs other interested parties)?

I dont really understand most of your points.

All offices would still use their own internal identifiers. Nothing changes there.

I dont quite see how somebody shutting up shop would effect the whole thing. You dont have to have the UUID identify who sourced the data at all. This is something that you can do and as far as I can see it is an advantage. Some of this data gets through two or three hands before it ends up with the portal and currently a portal only knows who sent it the data, not who created it. I say somebody was found to be breaching the law and using values that were not representative of their owners instructions. In one foul swoop they could remove any listing that was sourced from that data… Also, what if the portal gets a phone call saying the price is wrong… this allows you to identify who injected the wrong price.

And a UUID can be completly random or it can represent calculated result based upon set criteria exactly as you described. A UUID can be generated using an algorthim based upon your very example, however, it will still be unique.

Technically the only difference between us really is that you think its possible to come up with the same identifier through different means because you have the same criteria. I would have thought that would cause no end of trouble. A portal having updates on the same listing by two agents.. who’s logo gets displayed, what about price, who is right, who is wrong?. Each will want their listing displayed seperatley.

Sorry, I think the portals would agree that every listing needs to have a unique ID, thats why currently they create them and insist agencies and data loaders use those unique id’s. All I have proposed is that the same unique ID is used throughout the industry for data transfers.

UUID is just a format and a currently existing standard that can be applied and allows for growth plus all of the other factors I have described. .

Portals, Client Software and whatever else should be free to decide to use whatever internal identifiers they like. The identification scheme to be used in the XML should only be used for data transfer. It should also not be up to any one party to be reponsible for generating the transfer identifier, since the risk is too great that the particular party will shut up shop.

A transfer identifier should be a calculated value, so that given a minimum set of criteria, I can create an identifier for it. I should be able to take items A, B and C, apply an set and open algorithm to that data and come up with the same result every time.

Anyone else with the same criteria should similarly be able to come up with the same identifier as well, and you should be confident that if two identifiers match, the criteria that generated them is the same.

Seriously though, these ones are fairly easy to predict because many of them are available on the internet now and are only just moving into the real estate industry. What will be interesting is to see what other things people come up with that look to the future. So what else have you got that you are prepared to share??

I noticed the yanks are currently updating their spec… Do you know if its publicly available yet even in draft or disucssion form?? I might try and do a bit of research to see if they have released discussion notes or draft versions that are easy to put our hands on.

What information/technology do you have in mind that should be allowed for in this that is not currently being sent between parties?

Here is some quick ones off the top of my head:

***Agent to Portal Communication***
Audio – such as links to hosted mp3 files discussing the property

Video – such as links to hosted video files of the property

Embedded Video – Such as Youtube or the other clones

Floorplans – such as links to hosted interactive floorplans (such as flash) and the standard static type such as gif files.

lat/long – geo location coordinates

***Portal to Agent Communication***
Property Views – reporting back to the agent the property views on their properties. This could be broken down to previews and detailed views etc..

Email Enquiries – reporting back to the agent the number of email enquiries received on their properties

Phone Enquiries – reporting back to the agent the number of phone enquiries received on their properties

Ok, we seem to be getting a little side tracked. What this is all about (Open XML Initiative) is creating standards. Even if there were a cost, thios would be off set by the cost involved currently in doing things. We have around 2 main portals 5 less significant portals and an untold amount of new entries – not to mention agents own websites. Whilst most work around REA’s data, I think it would be in everyones interest to have an Open System that allows us all to participate in making everything easier for everybody.

By having a set way of describing and identifying data and then applying usage rules for this data this would mean lower costs to developers, portals, new entrants and most of all agents can get back to selling and renting properties instead of spending time ringing up portals and customer service about errors with listings.

The future of real estate marketing will not only be confined to the web, it will include mobile and set top boxes and to get things right the first time will only serve everyone better.

This forum is to express ideas, not to drown down others, the best ideas come from left field and each one listed above makes me and I am sure others think a little more about the way we will go about this.

We have an amazing group of people willing to give their time to make this work and I am sure we will come up with something simple to begin with and then build on this because we will think about all of the future things we would like to include.

I am not including a cost, I just said that a UUID would assist if thats where the group moves to. That is for the group to decide but personally I would be surprised if it did not come up with some sort of funding strategy… It will have costs involved that has to be paid somehow or are you thinking it will plant a money tree?

Besides, whoever said the internet was FREE? Your kidding yourself if you think thats the case. Somebody always pays. I doubt you have FREE computers, operating a FREE OS with FREE programs on a FREE broadband connection whilst the portals offer you FREE subscription, and your staff perform for FREE doing data entry and handling enqurieis. I guess you have never heard the saying that there is no such thing as a FREE lunch.

As towards your comment on the MLS… Where do you get that from? You are reading far far too much into it. That fact that your not getting the full picture is because there is not one for you to see. You are looking for a forest out there. You are not missing the forest because of the trees…. because that is all that is there. One tree, one suggestion. The thread was to pitch ideas. If a UUID is implemented it would only be one small facet of the whole concept leaving your truly prophetic statement correct and that is there are, “Many things to iron out it seems”.

Elizabeth, I explained it as easy as I could to you and you try and turn this into some conspiracy theory about MLS’s. I am surprised you did claim that the franchises where behind it all! Maybe you can get some of your “people” to explain it in a way that you can understand it better.

Glenn you are right, I do not know much about what you are spruiking, but I have people for that.

Interesting that you are now including a cost, and associated rights to using a format. So much for the internet being Free and all inclusive!

I still am not sure if you addressed the duplication issue. Nor do I think that we have the full picture of what you actually want to steer towards. Perhaps an Australian MLS?

Many things to iron out it seems.

E

Here in SA, as a talking point.

The Land Agency called Commercial SA who operates in the Commercial & Industrial segments of the market was a front runner in open information posted on their website. Eg rents, lease information, net lettable areas etc etc

Great work CSA!

The others should follow!?